In the fast lane New RC racetrack in Waynesburg a smash hit
Waynesburg’s new Bash Race Track, owned and managed by Ben McMillen and Ed Hughes of Waynesburg, sits in the back of their photography studio, McMillen Photography, 66 West High St.
Ben McMillen of Waynesburg holds up a RC short-course truck– one that he often rents out as part of the new business he started, Bash Race Track on West High Street in Waynesburg.
Ben McMillen of Waynesburg races RC cars in the back of his McMillen Photography studio, 66 West High St., Waynesburg. He and his business partner, Ed Hughes, built the track and have started a new racing business called Bash Race Track.
Waynesburg’s new Bash Race Track, owned and managed by Ben McMillen and Ed Hughes, of Wayensburg, sits in the back of their photography studio, McMillen Photography, 66 West High St.
WAYNESBURG – What started a few weeks ago as two Waynesburg guys racing remote-control cars while “off the clock” has turned into a busines – and already, a business they’ve outgrown.
Bash Race Track is the new indoor RC raceway in Waynesburg, owned by Ben McMillen and Ed Hughes. The two men were already business partners, running the McMillen Photography studio at 66 W. High St. in Waynesburg.
“Everything about it has kind of caught us off guard,” McMillen said about their new racing business.
The two men, who have known each other for years, have always loved RC cars and racing. They had a large space in the back of their photography studio, so they started messing around by building a small track back there and inviting friends over to race.
“I kind of just assumed it would be us and maybe two or three other people,” Hughes said. “Next thing I know there’s 30-plus people here. I’m just shocked at how well it’s doing.”
McMillen said that it wasn’t their initial plan, but after word spread about their RC race track and people started calling and flooding in to race, they decided to start a new business. They spent six weeks building a much bigger track, with jumps, fog pipes and sharp turns. They also invested a lot more money into than they had planned, but they expect it to pay off.
“It’s way more popular than I expected,” he said. “I think we’ll have our full investment returned in a year.”
Along with the track, they purchased extra cars to rent out, televisions to watch race placements and a time-tracking system. They hung up advertisement banners from local businesses and area hobby shops where the cars and parts can be purchased.
They also installed a “pit area,” with stations where racers can work on their cars and make any repairs.
They opened as a private racing club March 8 and have averaged 35 racers per day since. McMillen said membership for the club is free and they already have more than 100 members. Practice days are Wednesday and Sunday, and races are Friday night, he said.
McMillen said they’ve had such a huge response from the community that they’re already thinking about expanding. He said with the amount of racers interested in every event, it would help to have a second track in a bigger building.
“There’s definitely a lot of potential for it,” he said. “We’re trying to find a building to expand.”
The track has attracted people, young and old, from all over Southwestern Pennsylvania and parts of West Virginia, he said, because it’s the only one of its kind in this region, made specifically for RC short-course trucks.
“We have families that come down here,” he said. “There’s just not enough stuff like this to do around here.”
McMillen also said they are already booking racing parties for companies and other groups to rent the track and cars for the day.
“It’s turned into way more than we expected and it hasn’t even been a month,” he said.
For more information about Bash Race Track or to become a member visit their website at www.bashrt.com.